Kono tied for fifth at Women's Publinx

Two other Hawaii golfers advance to match play, and a fourth has a shot

PUEBLO, Colo. » Three Hawaii golfers advanced to today's 2006 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship match play, and a fourth could join them when stroke play resumes today.

Stephanie Kono of Honolulu shot a 4-under 68 in yesterday's second round and sat in a tie for fifth when play ended to advance along with Kimberly Kim (t-21st) of Hilo and Mari Chun (t-25th) of Pearl City. Thunderstorms delayed play twice yesterday, preventing 14 golfers from completing their rounds, including Amanda Wilson of Hilo.

The second round of stroke-play qualifying will wrap up today, with the top 64 advancing to today's match-play round.

Wilson, who opened Tuesday with a 75, was tied for 42nd when play was halted yesterday and likely will make the match-play field if she doesn't lose more than two strokes to par and closes with a 79.

Kono shot a 3-under 33 yesterday while starting on the back nine, then cruised home, closing her day with eight straight pars.

Kim shot a 4-over 76 on the second day to sit at 5 over, while 2005 stroke-play co-medalist Mari Chun matched her opening 75.

Six months after fracturing a vertebra in her neck in a car accident that led to drunken-driving charges against UCLA football player Justin Medlock, 19-year-old Hannah Jun took another big step in her comeback from a serious neck injury, shooting a 1-under 71 for a share of the lead. She matched 16-year-old Mina Harigae (70) at 7-under 137 on the Walking Stick course.

Jun had four birdies and three bogeys in her morning round.

"I had it going, then came back, then I got it going again," Jun said. "It was about average today. I hit both par 5s on the front and three-putted them both.

Kim's sister Christine shot a second-round 84 and is already out of the top 64, in a tie for 75th.

Lori Planos of Kapalua -- a 45-year-old who won back-to-back WAPL titles in 1979-80 -- shot a second-round 77, but finished tied for 92nd. Cyd Okino shot an 81, for the same score, 15 over. Kaneohe's Jaclyn Hilea (82) was there, too.